Disney Illusion Island

For a lot of people, the Metroidvania genre can be daunting. It’s known for its challenge and for how disorienting it can be if you’re not paying attention to the side scrolling map you’re traveling through. Disney Illusion Island is one of the more inviting examples of the genre, and much of that comes from its decentralizing combat in favor of exploration, cooperation, and all-around good vibes.

Read more: They’re Making A Mickey Mouse Metroidvania, And It Looks Grand

Yes, the game is likely best enjoyed if you’re the kind of person who visits Disney World twice a year, but its bones are still great and transcend any fandom you may or may not feel toward the House of Mouse. It’s especially accessible as a family game that you can play with kids or with a big group of friends, as it supports four-player co-op. As we wrote about it in July, Disney Illusion Island is one of the rare games that manages to balance fanservice for the hardcore Disney heads and strong mechanics for everyone else.

“Even non-Disney adults will enjoy the snappy action, low-stakes gameplay, gorgeous visuals and co-op shenanigans,” Zack Zweizen wrote.
And if you are a Disney adult, well, you probably already bought this game and have it installed on your Switch. Good news: You are in for a treat.”

— Kenneth Shepard

Playable on: Switch

Rough average playtime: Six hours